Prenatal Yoga Classes at Guided By Humanity in Denver
Expecting a baby is an exciting time. There’s so much to prepare for, from choosing a name, finding a birth center, creating a birth plan, and don’t forget all those cute little onesies.
Giving birth will require both emotional and physical strength. Exercising during pregnancy is a great way to prepare for childbirth physically.
While there are many forms of exercise, the bigger you get, the more challenging some methods become. Starting an exercise routine, you can stick with from month 1 to the big day will benefit you and your baby. One form of exercise that can be performed during pregnancy and beyond is yoga.
Prenatal yoga can be a great way to prepare for childbirth. It helps with stretching, mental centering, and intentional breathing. It is both calming and invigorating. There are many benefits of yoga for both you and your baby, such as:
- Better sleep
- Less stress and anxiety
- Improved flexibility
- Increased strength and muscle endurance
- Less low back pain
- Helps reduce nausea
- Fewer headaches and shortness of breath
When choosing a prenatal yoga class, it’s essential to know that your instructor is genuinely qualified to teach prenatal yoga. Also, the space is safe and calming, and your boundaries will be respected. All these qualities and more are present at Guided By Humanity Yoga Studio in Denver, Colorado.
What happens during a Guided By Humanity prenatal yoga class?
A typical prenatal yoga class might involve the following:
- Breathing: The Guided By Humanity instructor will encourage you to be mindful of breathing through your nose. These breathing techniques can benefit you during labor, especially when managing contractions.
- Gentle stretching. It’s important to be gentle and careful doing stretching while pregnant. Your instructor has additional training to help pregnant people achieve their full range of motion while staying safe.
- Postures: Using props, blankets, cushions, and chairs—students are never pressured to move beyond what their body tells them. At Guided By Humanity, instructors focus on what a person CAN do through trauma-informed, inclusive practice.
- Relaxation: At the end of each prenatal yoga class, you will be guided through a mind/body exercise that calms and restores
- Community: You get to meet other expecting parents at prenatal yoga. You can compare experiences, share ideas, and encourage each other.
Are there styles of yoga that aren’t recommended for expecting parents?
There are many different styles of yoga, and some can be pretty intense. Prenatal yoga is designed specifically for pregnant people. Make sure you talk to the instructor about your pregnancy before starting a non-prenatal yoga class. Restorative and chair yoga are safe choices for pregnant people. Both classes are offered at Guided By Humanity.
Whatever you do, avoid hot yoga. The pregnant body experiences many changes every day, and hot yoga can raise your body temperature too much, harming you and your baby.
Before starting any exercise program, talk to your healthcare provider. Certain medical conditions could be aggravated by doing prenatal yoga. If you are at risk for pre-term labor, have heart disease, or have back problems, you may not be cleared to take the class.
The most important thing you can do during this time is to be kind to yourself and honor your body. You can do this by:
- Setting realistic goals: You may want to unroll your mat four days a week but need more energy. Don’t beat yourself up. It takes a ton of energy to be pregnant! Remember: Just 30 minutes a day of exercise can benefit you. Follow your body’s lead and rest when you need rest, and unroll the mat when you have the energy to do so.
- Pace yourself: Slow down if you can’t catch your breath or speak normally during prenatal yoga. As your pregnancy progresses, breathing will be more challenging, so practice mindful breathing early on.
- Stay cool and hydrated: Bring your water bottle!
- Avoid certain postures: Your Guided By Humanity prenatal yoga instructor will guide you through safe positions. Common sense dictates avoiding pressure on your abdomen, protecting your back, and not lying flat on the floor. You want to make sure your baby is getting proper blood flow, not getting squished, and that you don’t have a sudden blood pressure drop.
Listening to your body and honoring your intuition is important when taking a prenatal yoga class. If it feels unsafe, don’t do it. Stop your practice and contact your healthcare provider if you are feeling discomfort or pain, have bleeding or contractions, or have decreased fetal movement.
There are many prenatal yoga classes to choose from. At Guided By Humanity, the studio focuses on welcoming All-Bodies and All-Abilities. By creating a welcoming, inclusive, safe space, expectant parents are met where they are and honored during this special time. Prenatal yoga will make you stronger, more refreshed, and less stressed. Your body will be ready to take on the challenge and mystery of birth.
Congrats on your pregnancy and for remembering to practice self-care now and after your baby is born.
See you in class!
